Looking for recommendations, I hunt rough grouse and released pheasants in Alberta Canada. I have had labs, Springers and a disastrous time with a gsp. I was looking at cockers,puddlepointers or pointing labs.

That question begs another: do you want a personal trainer or a boot licker? Are you going to train it yourself or have it trained? I'm your age and have Brittanys but have to say it helps to be in top shape! The key is to have a well-trained dog; they do the work and you stand there or walk slowly behind. With a close working pointing dog you can stand there until the dog points, and then you go; that saves you some work. Flushers often work closer than pointing dogs, but you have to follow them all the time. All things being equal, though, for a slower close working dog for preserve pheasants a pointing lab is a good choice, as might a standard poodle or a setter also be. Or get a dog of any breed that's finished (completely trained). Seriously, even a fast dog like a pointer can be trained to work pretty close and do all the work for you (it may not like it!), but that's probably overkill on a preserve.

I'm about 10 years older than you and I now find brittanies to be a bit too wide ranging and maybe a bit too fast for me. It is easier to buy a pup that is by nature likely to hunt fairly close and not too fast than it is to buy a naturally fast and wide ranging pup and then train it not to hunt so widely !

A friend bought a Bracco Italiano last year. She might be the kind of dog to suit you. Not particularly fast or wide ranging and easy to control. She also loves retrieving and will retrieve almost anything with just about no training at all. The breed seems to have a beautiful nature . I am liking this breed more and more even though I don't much like it's "heavy hound" looks.

I would say pick "your" breed and work with them. I feel any dog bred to hunt could be a possibility. I never cared for the term boot licker or heel shiner Though I was often guilty of calling my dog "my heel shiner"...... but oh contrar he/they worked exactly as I had hoped they would. Close and in the game . Here in the part of NY I choose to hunt and call home a "big running dog" would be of no use for chasing grouse and the little russet fellow. I have run GSP's with great success . 35 ~ 75 yrds mostly ~ with ranges of 100-125 depending on terrain. I like pointy dogs . I have nothing against flushing breeds. This dog world would be a pretty boring place if we all liked "one" breed of dog.

Zebo, I am well into my 60s and still find myself loving pointing dogs that some might find too much work. A part of that also requires that I myself stay in the shape so that I can bird hunt where/when I chose. I would rather hunt birds with my dogs than anything else so here's hoping the Big Guy gives me a few more years. As for "the breed for you", I suggest you get a Lab or a flusher (springer/cocker etc.). As suggested, a trained dog will expedite your aspirations if that's in your budget. The thing with flushers in my opinion, is that they handle ditch parrots better than most breeds because of their natural ability traits. They should handle with minimal intervention, pattern closely, flush within gun range, retrieve from land or water. Most of these traits come with well bred retrievers/flushers out of the box. Getting them to hold pattern and "hup" is where you might have to focus your efforts.Yes, most of the pointing breeds learn the habits of ditch parrots over time. "Time" is the key to getting a pointing dog where it need be and time, at our age becomes a very weighted entity. The training needs of a typical gun dog means there is more work and sometimes more $$$ into a competent pointer versus a capable flusher.As much as I still love my setter and pointer, I would prefer to hunt ditch parrots over a flusher or retriever - again, that's just me. Oh, and flushers/retrievers make fine grouse dogs too - a fact often under-stated. When you add in waterfowling which you have in spades in AB, you have the ultimate dog be it a Lab or flusher, me thinks!

I know this is heresy to some...but in your situation, a pointing Lab might just be the perfect choice. You will have a dog that naturally has the tendency to stay close, will stop and stand for grouse, at least until you get there and not drive forward to the flush, and that is not afraid to go into cold water after a downed bird.

The key is(obviously) to get the kind of dog YOU will enjoy hunting behind. You know you and your needs best. Keep that at the front of your selection process. I do agree that a dog that has been "well started" might be a bargain because you can go to the field pretty much right away and time is money, but again, that is your call.

Nothing wrong with a good flushing dog,and a lot right. Still, your first step is to decide if you want a pointing or flushing dog, and then to make decisions from there. I agree that a started (or even finished) dog has great merit. And you should also decide what breed you'd prefer AWAY from the bird field,as that's where you'll see the dog most. Size, coat , protectiveness, activity level and more are all genetic. Figure out what you want.

I love pointing dogs, so that is what I hunt behind. I think it is a commonly heard misnomer that as we age we need slow close working dogs. I disagree with that completely if the intent is hunt wild birds. I think we need broke dogs which find, point and hold birds until we arrive, but otherwise the dog hunts out so we do not have to walk over every possible place where there might be birds, as would be the case with a boot polishing dog. When I cannot walk to a dog on point then I guess I will quit upland bird hunting, but until then I remained thrilled to do so.

I also find pointing dogs more relaxing to hunt with vs a flushing dog, which I think favors aging hunters. FWIW I hunt behind a GWP but that has a lot to do with using the dog for Upland, Waterfowl and Blood Tracking. If all I hunted was upland birds I would likely have an EP or GSP and let them roll until they found and pointed birds. Where birds are thick that will not be too far away, where they are sparse it will be farther but either way I get to see my dog point birds and probably get to shoot some as well. And if birds are sparse then wearing myself out walking behind a boot polisher does not accomplish anything as the alternative.

averageguy wrote:I love pointing dogs, so that is what I hunt behind. I think it is a commonly heard misnomer that as we age we need slow close working dogs. I disagree with that completely if the intent is hunt wild birds. I think we need broke dogs which find, point and hold birds until we arrive, but otherwise the dog hunts out so we do not have to walk over every possible place where there might be birds, as would be the case with a boot polishing dog. When I cannot walk to a dog on point then I guess I will quit upland bird hunting, but until then I remained thrilled to do so.

I also find pointing dogs more relaxing to hunt with vs a flushing dog, which I think favors aging hunters. FWIW I hunt behind a GWP but that has a lot to do with using the dog for Upland, Waterfowl and Blood Tracking. If all I hunted was upland birds I would likely have an EP or GSP and let them roll until they found and pointed birds. Where birds are thick that will not be too far away, where they are sparse it will be farther but either way I get to see my dog point birds and probably get to shoot some as well. And if birds are sparse then wearing myself out walking behind a boot polisher does not accomplish anything as the alternative.

Best of Luck with your next dog.

This is my choice also. 20 years ago at 60, I phased out all of my Springers and went totally to pointing dogs because I did not have to keep up. I can walk the trails while they find the birds. Sometimes they have to hold point for a long time....................Cj

A lot of good posts here. After deciding if you want a flushing or pointing dog, you go from there. For a pointer, I recommend a French Brittany, compact hard working and known for their close work. Very good dogs at home too.

Geeze folks I wish you people would put a state for your location. When someone posts I often wonder where they are located. Perhaps if uncomfortable about posting town at least a state could possibly be included.

Max2 wrote:Geeze folks I wish you people would put a state for your location. When someone posts I often wonder where they are located. Perhaps if uncomfortable about posting town at least a state could possibly be included.

He's in Alberta. He posted that. I would think a pointing dog would be easier to follow than a flusher. Spaniels move pretty quick. A lab might be ok.

Zebo wrote:Looking for recommendations, I hunt rough grouse and released pheasants in Alberta Canada. I have had labs, Springers and a disastrous time with a gsp. I was looking at cockers,puddlepointers or pointing labs.

I'm a notch off 60 and Location is Scotland.If the Post heading is to indicate you are not physically fit enough to walk miles on ground cover that is thick or climbing or in harsh weather ,then any breed will do if it has a good coat , walks to heel and steady to shot from you and will retrieve to you . You may even get more game in your bag , depending on how well you shoot of course

Zebo, I'm nearly 73 and I want you to consider this. If you have a flusher, YOU have to cover all of the ground a flusher does. If you have a pointing dog that runs to objectives, HE covers the ground for you and you walk up and shoot the birds. Let me give you an example. We were hunting some rolling prairie a couple years ago and ahead of us about 1/4 mile was a damp pothole, loaded with cattail. The Draht spotted it and took off in a straight line for it, then hunted it. There were no birds there. My friend, Gary, and I were standing on a hill and he said "That really is an old man's dog isn't she?"

I prefer the dog cover the ground and find the birds while I observe then shoot. The older I get, the more I observe.

gonehuntin' wrote:Zebo, I'm nearly 73 and I want you to consider this. If you have a flusher, YOU have to cover all of the ground a flusher does. If you have a pointing dog that runs to objectives, HE covers the ground for you and you walk up and shoot the birds. Let me give you an example. We were hunting some rolling prairie a couple years ago and ahead of us about 1/4 mile was a damp pothole, loaded with cattail. The Draht spotted it and took off in a straight line for it, then hunted it. There were no birds there. My friend, Gary, and I were standing on a hill and he said "That really is an old man's dog isn't she?"

I prefer the dog cover the ground and find the birds while I observe then shoot. The older I get, the more I observe.

That's interesting. 71 now and my setter is almost 13 so I've been thinking about the next dog too. I was going to get a spaniel but may have to rethink that.

I have to second Gonehuntin and Sharon on this one. I'm 72 and have been hunting behind a Setter and A Chessie for the last 5 years and, verified by GPS, I've found that while hunting wild upland birds I walk about 35% less behind the pointing dog than the flusher and encounter closer flushes and shoot more birds with the pointing dog than with the flusher. Not because the flusher finds fewer birds but because the flush frequently takes place before I'm in position to shoot or am too distant for a good shot.

A steady, staunch pointer will still be on point when the old man finally arrives to flush the bird. Granted, some Pheasant will have run before I get to the point, but the Setter will find him again and I won't be so winded that I can't shoot. I rest while he hunts and walk when he points. If he gets too far out because there are no birds, I call him in and we take a break and begin again.................

I have a Brittany she runs big. No Huge in open terrain. But she is very intelligent. When hunting and she smells a covey of birds ahead she stops and looks back to me with a stance, almost a point that I know she has birds ahead. Chucker hunting in steep terrain, she knows to wait for me about every 20 yards. I use a tracking collar and she does not budge on point. Will work about 100 yards out in heavy brush. I am 76.

Thanks for some great insights everyone . I am mid fifties with my first dog a Brittany that likes to range out there. I really like hunting pheasants with him. I was wondering what to do next time and this thread has provided a lot of good information.

averageguy wrote:I love pointing dogs, so that is what I hunt behind. I think it is a commonly heard misnomer that as we age we need slow close working dogs. I disagree with that completely if the intent is hunt wild birds. I think we need broke dogs which find, point and hold birds until we arrive, but otherwise the dog hunts out so we do not have to walk over every possible place where there might be birds, as would be the case with a boot polishing dog. When I cannot walk to a dog on point then I guess I will quit upland bird hunting, but until then I remained thrilled to do so.

I also find pointing dogs more relaxing to hunt with vs a flushing dog, which I think favors aging hunters. FWIW I hunt behind a GWP but that has a lot to do with using the dog for Upland, Waterfowl and Blood Tracking. If all I hunted was upland birds I would likely have an EP or GSP and let them roll until they found and pointed birds. Where birds are thick that will not be too far away, where they are sparse it will be farther but either way I get to see my dog point birds and probably get to shoot some as well. And if birds are sparse then wearing myself out walking behind a boot polisher does not accomplish anything as the alternative.

Best of Luck with your next dog.

This is my choice also. 20 years ago at 60, I phased out all of my Springers and went totally to pointing dogs because I did not have to keep up. I can walk the trails while they find the birds. Sometimes they have to hold point for a long time....................Cj

I have to say that this thread has given me some new heroes. CJ Hills and Art Hubbard are apparently hunting hard at 80+. Clearly pointing dogs are good for you.

ezzy333 wrote:I didn't realize that either rof you gentlemen were my age. Just turned 85 last month.

Ezzy

It is good for we young fellows who, after all, represent the future of birdhunting to interact with you older gentlemen. I am a dynamic 70.

Ten years ago when my sainted male Gordon passed away, I was without a dog for the first time in 39 years. I do not recommend it. My new (and non-dog-person) wife kept on saying it was "a good time to work on our relationship". I didn't know what she was talking about. I wanted a dog! And I got a fine one. a GWP. And then, later, another.

gonehuntin' wrote:Zebo, I'm nearly 73 and I want you to consider this. If you have a flusher, YOU have to cover all of the ground a flusher does. If you have a pointing dog that runs to objectives, HE covers the ground for you and you walk up and shoot the birds. Let me give you an example. We were hunting some rolling prairie a couple years ago and ahead of us about 1/4 mile was a damp pothole, loaded with cattail. The Draht spotted it and took off in a straight line for it, then hunted it. There were no birds there. My friend, Gary, and I were standing on a hill and he said "That really is an old man's dog isn't she?"

I prefer the dog cover the ground and find the birds while I observe then shoot. The older I get, the more I observe.

I'm 72 and this post is exactly along with my thinking. Since I can't cover the ground like I use I want a dog that will cover more ground for me. Not a boot licker. I have a big running Brittany. If you have a pointing dog as you are get older, I fail to understand why you would want a closer working dog except maybe for the grouse woods.

Max2 wrote:Geeze folks I wish you people would put a state for your location. When someone posts I often wonder where they are located. Perhaps if uncomfortable about posting town at least a state could possibly be included.

He's in Alberta. He posted that. I would think a pointing dog would be easier to follow than a flusher. Spaniels move pretty quick. A lab might be ok.

Zebo is Long gone in February ! Just leaving the rest to pontificate.One thing already mentioned in the thread ..I never actually knew most of You guys are average age over retirement ! (Other than Bill (Trekmoor) , but he was old when he was born . lol ) Respect !!Now that in it'self determines the posters replies, never mind the state. With all due respect , there is absolutely No person on earth at the age of you guys hunting any breed in cover or terrain in the grounds that certain breeds are capable of or best suited for ,for that game quarry at that time of year in that state /country if it requires a level of fitness that most 25 year old's have a heart attack .

The best breed for the OP is 'anything' . Just train it to work in the environment you are in for the requirements you can work with ,to fit your ability .

polmaise wrote:I never actually knew most of You guys are average age over retirement ! (Other than Bill (Trekmoor) , but he was old when he was born . lol ) Respect !!Now that in it'self determines the posters replies, never mind the state. With all due respect , there is absolutely No person on earth at the age of you guys hunting any breed in cover or terrain in the grounds that certain breeds are capable of or best suited for ,for that game quarry at that time of year in that state /country if it requires a level of fitness that most 25 year old's have a heart attack .

The best breed for the OP is 'anything' . Just train it to work in the environment you are in for the requirements you can work with ,to fit your ability .

In general I have to agree with the above...... and Robert (Polmaise) and I have been known to disagree ! A few health problems hit me some years back and for me now, where gundog training and working them is concerned, it is very much a case of " The older I get the better I was !" I just cannot do the walking etc. that would take me up and over hills or through thick woodlands at any speed.

I have always had a strong liking for dogs that really "go" and a strong dislike of "potterers." When judging trials for the versatile breeds some years back I was famous for telling the competitors just prior to the trial that if, during their dog's run, I had time to yawn and scratch my backside then they wouldn't be likely to win !

Last week I took my daughters 13 - 14 weeks old GSP pup onto the shooting estate I often work on...... I had trouble keeping up with him ! He was into everything, he went through , under and over the fairly thick cover and all the fallen trees and he even crossed the 30 feet wide stream because he'd seen my lab and my springer over on the far side. There is about a two foot high drop down from the bank into the stream but not even that stopped him from getting where he wanted to go. I felt tired just watching him but he brought a smile to my face with his enthusiasm for life .

I only got about 100 yards along that stream before I had to sit down on a fallen tree and just let the dogs and the pup do their own thing but I really enjoyed my mornings short walk. Pups help keep you young at heart and I'm taking the GSP pup back to the estate today for more of the same.

Exactly Bill!No matter how old you are, if you can still walk - even with a cane- get some kind of dog. They make you get up and go at least a couple times a week and a pup more than once a day. Otherwise I'd be sitting on the couch yelling at Trump. ...... and I'm Canadian.

Sharon wrote:Exactly Bill!No matter how old you are, if you can still walk - even with a cane- get some kind of dog. They make you get up and go at least a couple times a week and a pup more than once a day. Otherwise I'd be sitting on the couch yelling at Trump. ...... and I'm Canadian.

OP( Zebo ) Early 60s and healthy ? Get what you want and enjoy.

(Welcome to the forum.)

Wow!!!!! Maybe I misjudged you. Mine make me walk four miles every day. Some I would rather take a nap........................Cj

On the days I don't feel like walking, I ride a bike, the dog's run to the front and sides. That's my favorite way to exercise them. I can go faster and make them go faster. The pup cruises along at 15-20. I can't keep up with her for long. Unless we're going down hill.

Well, we have quite a crew of oldsters here, and I'm glad to see I'm in such good company. Last year, when our 12 yr old lab died, we got a Springer pup which will likely be our last pup. We're both 65, and hope we can keep up with the dogs for another 10 years or so. We also have two Britts (10 yrs. and 9 yrs. old), and a GSP (4 yrs. old). We try to keep fit enough to do all the walking that the dogs need. We are still involved with our local gundog club, but no longer test in NAVHDA as we did in the past. I can't imagine not having the dogs; they keep us young.

I will turn 60 in August and have a 2 year old dog. I am on the fence as to whether I want to train out another pup to hunt with this one at this time. If we are Blessed with a normal useful life as a gundog, I will be 70 before I would need another one.

10 years from now my legs may be a limiting factor at that time, but the trend of wild bird populations and habitat loss might be the real limiting factor. Could be time for another Tree dog or some Beagles instead, as the public hunting area opportunities to hunt behind those types of dogs in the MW are far better presently.

Wow, great advice from a lot of knowledgable dog people, working with a cocker breeder/trainer on started dog. Pointing labs are really tough to find. She who must be obeyed says no more GSP's so that might be out of the question, going to some trials to look at all the options. Thanks for the advice